Lubricator



Sept. 20, 1932. ZENON 1,878,087

LUBRICA'I'OR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed ,May 15, 1931 WVENTOR BYWM A'ITORNEY Sept. 20, 1932. 8 Y. ZENON 1,878,087

LUBRICATOR Filed May 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v A RNEY Patented Sept. 20, 1932 PATENT: oFFicE YVAN ZENON, F 'ROSEDALE, NEW YORK L'U'IBRICATOR Application filed May 15,

My present invention relates to improvements in lubricators of the type adapted to lubricate elevator guide rails.

, It is a principal object of my invention to improve existing types of lubricators of this character, and more specifically to provide a device in which either grease or oil may be used and which will positively feed the lubricant to the guides when the car is in motion but will not feed the lubricant when the car is at rest.

A further object is to provide a substantially uniform head of lubricant at the point at which it is applied.

A still further object is to provide such a device which will serve a plurality of guides from a single reservoir and will have means for regulating the flow of lubricant to each point of application.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved spreaders for distributing the lubricant to a large area of the rail surface and particularly along the sides of the rails.

A still further object is to provide such a device in which lateral sway of the car, toward and away from the guides, is allowed for as well as for the guides being somewhat out of plumb.

Other objects of the invention and advantages thereof will be apparent as the description proceeds, and the elements of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claim.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description taken with the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of my invention as installed upon an elevator car;

Figure 2 is a view of the lubricant reservoir and means for causing the lubricant to feed therefrom under substantially uniform pres sure;

" tical section of the lubricant applicator and the means for holding same in place; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the applicator with the elevator guide rail in cross section.

. Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 denotes a lubricant container or reservoir which Figure 3 is an enlarged view partly in verinto a slot 58 formed in the member .51. The

1931. Serial No. 537,618.

is preferably of cylindrical shape and is provided with a weighted plunger 11 to which is connected a centrally disposed rod 13 having a handle 14 by means of which the plunger may be raised to within the cover 15 6 5 of the container. The latter is hinged at 16 and provided with a securing device 17 as shown in Figure 1. Container 10 is attached to a bottom plate 18 by means of which it is secured to the elevator cross beam 19 or other .60 portion of the car by bolt 20. The container 10 is provided with a feed pipe 23 which, in the embodiment illustrated, has branches 24 and 25 leading to the applicators 26, 27 for applying lubricant to the rails 28, 29, respec- 65 I tively.

Proceeding now to the description of my improved applicator, this comprises a block 33 of metal which may be secured to a cross beam .34 of the elevator car by means of a plate 35 attached thereto by means of bolts 36 passing through eyes 37 in such plate. Plate 35 is also preferably provided with a slot 39 within which the block '33 is mounted as by means of a stud bolt 40, securing nuts 41, 42, and washers 43.- It will be evident that, owing to the slot 39, the block 33 may be held and adjusted away from the guide rail 28, said block also receiving the end of cable 24 which comprises a terminal fitting 28 which has a threaded connection with the block 33 within a duct 46. The latter also communicates through a restricted opening 48 with a shell 50, in threaded attachment as shown, for holding the applicator member proper 51. The restricted opening 48 is adapted to receive a valve member 53 in the form of a screw bolt having a tapered end -whereby the flow of lubricant from the duct 46 into the chamber-afforded by the shell is subject to accurate control. Alock nut 54 prevents screw 53 from being accidentally turned.

Member 51, which is preferably of a fiber composition, slides freely in the shell 50 and is urged outwardly therefrom by means of the spring 54, the movement of the member 51 being limited in either direction by means of a set screw 56 in theshell 50 which extends M0 exterior opening of the member 51 is preferably closed by being pressed against the edge 60 of the guide 28. By virtue of this construction, the applicator member 51 is freely held within the shell 50 while being permitted to be moved back and forth under the influence of the spring 54. However, when it is desired to withdraw the member 51., this may be readily done by loosening the set screw 56.

In the preferred embodiment I haveprovided spreaders 62, 63 which are preferably attached to plates 64 and 65, respectively, the

latter being secured to the block 33 by means of the bolts 67 To allow sufficient play for the spreader members, the plates 64 and 65 are preferably made of resilient material such as spring brass. The spreaders 62, 63 are connected to their respective plates 64, 65 by means of rivets 70.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, by virtue of the weighted piston 11, oil under a substantially constant head is presented at the point of application to the guide at the termination of the duct 51. Because of the fact that the duct is closed against the end 60 of the guide rail, there will be no flow of grease or oil, whichever is used, while the car is stationary. However, when the car is in motion the lubricant wlll be fed out through the duct 51 by the action of the moving surfaces, and because of the substantially uniform force exerted by the weighted piston 11, the lubricant will be fed out substantially uniformly regardless of whether the tank 10 is full or nearly empty. Part of the lubricant fed out is caught by the spreaders 62 and 63 and distributed upon the side faces of the guide. The applicator member 51, which is preferably of a fiber composition, is softer than the rail and constitutes an efficient lubricant applying surface and, moreover, since it is softer than the rail it does not wear it away. The renewal of member 51 is readily accomplished by loosening the nuts 11, i2 and withdrawing the block 33 in the slot 39 whereupon the member 51 may be pulled out by withdrawing screw 56 from the slot 58 in said member. It will furthermore be noted that because of the inertia of the weighted piston 11 the flow of lubricant will be given a definite impulse each time the car is stopped or started, whereby stoppages in the system are prevented and the free flowing of the lubricant at all times insured.

I claim:

An elevator guide lubricator comprising in combination a container adapted to be mounted on an elevator car, said container having a weighted plunger for causing lubricant to feed therefrom, a lubricant applicator and a holder therefor, said applicator comprising a member containing a lubricantbearing duct having an opening, said member being spring-pressed against said guide so as to 

